Breyten Breytenbach

A native of South Africa, Breyten Breytenbach is a distinguished painter, activist, and writer of poetry, novels, short-stories, essays, and dramatic works.

From 1975 to 1982, he was a political prisoner serving two terms of solitary confinement in South African prisons. His most renowned work is the four-volume memoir of this odyssey: A Season in Paradise, The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist, Return to Paradise, and Dog Heart: A Memoir.

Breytenbach’s poetry collections include The Iron Cow Must Sweat, Footscript, and Lady One.

His paintings portray surreal human and animal figures, many of which are shown in captivity. He has exhibited his artwork in cities around the world, including Johannesbu


Articles by Breyten Breytenbach

World Voices Festival
Monday November 19

Africa and the World: Writers at Home and Away

BREYTEN BREYTENBACH: If one mentions the word “Africa” in a global context, it tends to evoke many responses and perhaps even some obsessions. People tend to project on the continent strange emotions either of unconditional hope, allegiance, and support or unalloyed horror at what they perceive as the terrible things taking place on the continent.